Upper Middle Petrol Head:

This really straight, very tidy and apparently all original HJ GTS was spotted at Sandy Bay's Long Beach on a scorching summer's day.  It gave the impression of being an extremely well-maintained car, rather than a restoration; the duco, chrome and interior were all first rate but without being too new.  I'm sure that someone's really proud of it and so they should be! All indications are that Classics by the Beach will be on this coming Sunday (6th of January, 2019).  If you can't make it in person, there'll be an UMPH post out by Monday so you can see what you've missed out on! Did you like this post?  If so, please feel to have a look-see around the rest of the uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au site.  There's a search facility (the magnifying glass icon) in the top right corner of the page that allows you to find any of the hundreds of classic, sports and performance cars from Tasmania and mainland Australia, as wel...

This outstanding XC Fairmont wagon, featuring a 4.1 litre cross-flow motor, was spotted in North Hobart on a beautiful summer's day.  It looked absolutely mint with its pristine duco, perfect chrome and lovely interior.  It featured era-appropriate  Hotwire wheels, a stylish wood-rimmed three spoke sports steering wheel and a very cool rear dust deflector that was similar to those fitted to Valiant Safaris of the same era.  It was otherwise ostensibly standard.    The quad-light front end and bonnet scoop combo - GS Rally Pack options - really set the car off nicely.  The swinging tailgate was a great feature, too - one that was only ever available on Fairmonts (the lesser-specced Falcons made do with a drop-down version).  A hearse-style chrome roof rack finished the look.  It might just be one of the very best examples of its model - certainly as far as wagons and sedans are concerned - around. U M...

I simply do not know enough about Ford Mustangs in general or, more specifically, the Shelby high-performance editions to write anything credible about the ultra-tough car shown here.  Therefore, I'll just post the attached Wikipedia link and let you read about the marque yourselves ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_Mustang ) . What I can say, however, is that the Shelby shown here is absolutely magnificent - better, I might venture - than the more current Mustangs.  The bonnet scoop and twin GT stripes are highly reminiscent of the classic mid- to late-1960s versions and the forged limited edition Shelby wheels looked amazing, too.   Having had the benefit of a quick squiz at the Wikipedia article above, I can't help but point out that this car is one of only 1,712 GT500KRs ever produced and, as a right-hand drive, is probably extremely rare, as only 141 were manufactured for sale beyond the USA's domestic market (military use, and for Canadia...

No prizes for guessing that rounded nuts and bolts really, really piss me off!  Especially when their recalcitrant refusal to budge stands between me and and job-done-let's-have-a-beer-time!! The example shown two photos above secured the Galant's tow-point and its recently re-sprayed stone-tray to the front chassis rail and had decided to go rounder than a rissole just as the final twist of the socket was applied.  (Insert profanity of your choice here - it's unlikely to be saltier than my rich and spectacular vocabulary was able to furnish at the time!).  Normal recovery protocol involves vice grips and more un-PC language.  However, the hex was positioned such that getting anything other than a socket or a ring-spanner anywhere near it was impossible, requiring a reciprocal increase in verbiage your mother may not approve of.  A visit to the interweb flagged up two apparently achievable options that didn't involve welding a makeshift...

This rather tidy HD Holden ute complements recent UMPH posts featuring a Victorian-registered HD sedan and a Tasmanian-plated HR van.  Unfortunately, it looks like some retard has deliberately keyed the passenger's side in what can only be described as a pathetic act of destruction by an abject moron!  Vandalism aside, it really was a nice looking vehicle with straight panels, (otherwise) good paint and chrome, and a set of deeply-dished  jelly bean mags.  Some people really, really are arseholes:  apparently deliberate scratches down the passenger's side. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

Lyn Archer's name has long been synonymous with Tasmanian motorsport, as well as having a strong association with the business and civic activities of Hobart over many decades, through his proprietorship of Lyn Archer Motors and service as an alderman on the Hobart City Council.  Lyn raced a variety of cars during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, but is probably best known for taking out 6th place in the 1959 Australian Grand Prix in Longford, northern Tasmania, and for also campaigning  an Elfin WR275 with great success. Today's article isn't actually about Lyn, although it is inextricably linked to him.  The car featured - a lovely MGC with an amazing 31,944 miles on the odometer (no - the clock hasn't ticked over for a second spin!) - was regularly used to tow Lyn's Elfin to race meetings, although it was actually his wife Pamela's.    I was lucky enough to meet Lyn and Pamela's son - Lyndon, who now owns the MG - in a local specialist garage ...

I'll admit that this humble early- to mid-70s Corona isn't the most exotic car to ever grace the pages of UMPH.  However, it is an absolute testament to the quality, and longevity, of the Toyota range.  It wasn't perfect but, considering its age, it was pretty damned good.  I wonder how many of today's plastic-bumpered cars will still be around in forty-plus years? U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.